WASHINGTON – Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in as the 114th Supreme Court justice in a private ceremony Saturday just hours after the Senate voted to confirm him, solidifying conservative control of the highest court in the land for years to come and ending a bitter battle over his nomination.

The confirmation delivered a major win to President Donald Trump, who defended his embattled nominee when sexual assault accusations were leveled against him. Kavanaugh has denied the accusations.

Trump, speaking at a rally in Topeka, Kansas, called it a "truly historic night" and a "tremendous victory." He added: "What he and his wonderful family endured at the hands of Democrats is unthinkable."

Kavanaugh's confirmation was not just a chance for Republicans to shift the court to the right for what could be decades. It was also a test of how public officials responded to the raw emotions unleashed by the #MeToo movement amid accusations from Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teens. He said the incident never happened.

That controversy will likely be scrutinized even further with the Nov. 6 midterm elections a month away, giving Democrats have a chance to take control of one or more chambers of Congress.

The anger among Kavanaugh's critics was evident on the steps of the Capitol where hundreds of protesters, many dressed in black garb, had gathered on the steps holding signs and chanting. A cordon of police officers stood in front of the doors.

Capitol Police said they arrested 164 people from among the hundreds of protestors who had gathered. Most, some 150, were arrested on the Capitol's east side.

The final Senate vote was 50-48. Sen. Joe Manchin was the only Democrat to break ranks and vote in favor of him.

Trump congratulated Kavanaugh on Twitter and called him a "great nominee." He signed Kavanaugh's commission to the Supreme Court aboard Air Force One so he could get to work immediately on the court.

Shortly after, Kavanaugh, accompanied by his family, was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, who Kavanaugh is replacing, during a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. The 6 p.m. ceremony marks the beginning of his lifetime appointment.

Twists and turns

For weeks, Kavanaugh's future had hung in the balance during hours of hearings, FBI investigations into the sexual assault allegations. The remarkable and ugly set of twists and turns that ended with Saturday's vote.

Kavanaugh's path to confirmation became clear Friday afternoon when Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who had been on the fence for months, announced her support in a 45-minute speech on the Senate floor.

"It is when passions are most inflamed that fairness is most in jeopardy," she said. "I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh."

Brett Kavanaugh, speaks as he officiates at the swearing-in of Judge Britt Grant to take a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Aug. 7, 2018, at the U.S. District Courthouse in Washington. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, AP

Brett Kavanaugh, departs after meeting with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which will oversee his confirmation, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Aug. 23, 2018. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, AP

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) greets Judge Brett Kavanaugh as he arrives at her office prior to a meeting in the Russell Senate Office Building on July 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Kavanaugh is meeting with members of the Senate after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated him to succeed retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. Alex Edelman, Getty Images

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) (L) and Judge Brett Kavanaugh arrive to talk with members of the news media after a meeting at the U.S. Capitol July 10, 2018 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Brett Kavanaugh, a judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, delivers the Commencement address for the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law on May 25, 2018 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Dana Bowler, The Catholic University of America

President George W. Bush, watches the swearing-in of Brett Kavanaugh as Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington on June 1, 2006. Holding the Bible is Kavanaugh's wife Ashley Kavanaugh. PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS, AP

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican against Kavanaugh's appointment. She voted as “present” as a collegial gesture for her Republican colleague Sen. Steve Daines, who supports Kavanaugh but is attending his daughter's wedding Saturday.

The gesture did not affect the outcome of the final vote but changed the tally to 50-48 in favor of Kavanaugh's confirmation.

Kavanaugh's confirmation was marked by mudslinging from both sides that divided the nation even deeper, but there was one thing both Democrats and Republicans agreed one: It was an ugly process that shouldn't be repeated.

Schumer, speaking first, said the nomination from start to finish "has been one of the saddest moments in the history of the Senate."

"Truly, Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation is a low moment for the Senate, for the court and for the country," he said.

McConnell seemed to agree. He said Kavanaugh’s record was one that "speaks for itself" and the ugly process showed his patience and humility. McConnell said the bitterness “fanned the flames” of partisan divisions throughout the country.

As the votes were cast, many senators sat silently with their hands across their laps. There were no cheers or applause at the conclusion. Some senators did hug or pat one another on the back.

The atmosphere outside the Capitol differed. Protesters held signs reading "Kava Nope" and "Shame, Collins," the latter a reference to the announcement by Collins that she planned to vote in support of the controversial Kavanaugh. Many of the protesters said they felt powerless but vowed that next month's midterms would change that.

Before Vice President Mike Pence called for the first vote, protesters in the Senate angrily began yelling and were dragged out of the chamber by police.

“I do not consent,” a woman could be heard screaming more than a minute after she was taken away.

“I’m a mother,” one woman shouted.

“I’m a patriot,” another said.

CLOSE

During the final vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, protesters were escorted out during roll call.
USA TODAY

Pence, who is also president of the Senate, had to ask the sergeant at arms to restore order in the gallery at least a half dozen times.

Themes for the midterms

Both Republicans and Democrats expect the Kavanaugh decision to be a central theme in the midterm elections.

Trump's promise during his 2016 campaign to put conservatives on the Supreme Court reinforced his support among Republicans.

In 2018, Democrats hope to ride to a "blue wave" of anger over Trump and Kavanaugh that could flip control of Congress. But Republicans believe the battle over Kavanaugh will help energize their voters, too.

Democrats are seen as having a solid chance to captured the House, fueled in part by women voters who are upset over Kavanaugh and dislike Trump. But taking over the Senate is likely to be a lot tougher. Democrats are defending multiple seats in states Trump easily carried in that chamber. In those states, the Kavanaugh vote could help Republicans.

Trump stepped into the political battle over the confirmation as allegations piled up against Kavanaugh.

White House aides had initially taken a more cautious approach, advising the president to tread carefully around a controversy that may still sour suburban women and independent voters. But in recent days Trump changed tack, viewing an outcry over the last-minute allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh as a way to drive turnout.

At a Minnesota rally on Thursday, Trump launched his latest rhetorical attack on the political storm surrounding Kavanaugh's confirmation by saying Democrats were "trying to destroy" the Court of Appeals judge and predicting they would pay a price in the November elections.

"Their rage-fueled resistance is starting to backfire," Trump told the audience, which responded with chants of Kavanaugh's name. "These people are loco."

CLOSE

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Friday she will vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, all but ensuring the Senate will elevate the conservative jurist to the nation’s highest court. (Oct. 5)
AP

Kavanaugh’s nomination always was destined to become a partisan battleground because of the justice he was picked to replace: Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court’s swing vote, who had sided with his liberal colleagues on issues such as abortion, affirmative action and gay rights. Kennedy, 81, retired after three decades in the middle of the court’s ideological battles.

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Protesters gather at the United States Supreme Court steps while the Senate Judiciary Committee moves to vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. USA TODAY

Protesters demonstrate and block the 2nd floor Dirksen Senate Office Building hallway on the same floor of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

A woman who said she is a survivor of a sexual assault confronts Jeff Flake, R-AZ, in an elevator after Flake announced that he would vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the Russell Senate Office Building on Sept. 28, 2018. The woman, who used her foot to prevent the elevator door from closing, said to Senator Flake "Look at me when I'm talking to you. You are telling me that my assault doesn't matter." Jim Lo Scalzo, EPA-EFE

Valerie Robertson of Milo, Maine, along with a small group of Maine residents opposed to the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, visit the office of Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, asking to meet with their Senator ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Protesters demonstrate and block the 2nd floor Dirksen Senate Office Building hallway on the same floor of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Democratic members of the House of Representatives stand up to show disapproval during the Senate Judiciary Committee markup on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA-EFE

Protesters are arrested as they sit and block the 2nd floor Dirksen Senate Office Building hallway on the same floor of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Protesters sit and block the 2nd floor Dirksen Senate Office Building hallway on the same floor of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY